Since the recent declaration of the pandemic of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, many false rumors and inaccurate suggestions have arisen regarding corrective lens wear. To debunk these rumors, here are some of the points that contact lens experts have made:
- Contact lens wear is safe!
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- Some have stated that only spectacle wear should be done to limit touching your eyes/face, but this information would be inaccurate. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that wearing glasses/spectacles will offer protection against viral transmissions such as COVID-19.
- Contact lens wear is completely appropriate, and should not impact the spread of COVID-19, so long as proper hygiene and lens care is being done.
- Proper hand washing: wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dry with a clean paper towel before insertion and removal of lenses.
- Clean your lenses each time upon removal, following proper directions.
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- Disinfect your lenses exactly as recommended by your physician and manufacturer.
- Discontinue lens wear only if affected by COVID-19.
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- Disinfect your glasses/spectacles
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- Viruses can stay on hard surfaces for hours or days, and it is important to be consistently disinfecting your glasses to avoid spread of the virus.
- Disinfecting the surface where you may rest your glasses/spectacles, in addition to disinfecting the frames themselves, will limit the risk of spreading the virus. (Make sure to properly wash your hands as well!)
- To learn more: